Saxon Barnes papers
Abstract
Saxon Barnes (1902-1991) was the fourth child of Wald and Elizabeth Barnes and a brother of Djuna Barnes. He was a successful banker at Citibank for thirty-six years. The collection includes photographs, correspondence, clippings, biographical information, and printed matter. Correspondents include Andrew Field, Edith Brownman, Silas Glossop, Fran McCullough, and others. Subjects of the photographs include Djuna Barnes, Miss Barnes's family and friends, and silverpoint drawings by Thelma Wood. Most of the correspondence relates to the estate or literary works of Djuna Barnes.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
This collection is open for research.
Saxon Barnes papers, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.
This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
Saxon Barnes was born on July 26, 1902. He was the fourth child of Wald and Elizabeth Barnes and a brother of Djuna Barnes. Mr. Barnes was a successful banker, working at Citibank for thirty-six years. While at Citibank, his accomplishments included securing important accounts from companies such as Shell Oil. He also became Vice President of the bank's Rockefeller Center branch. Mr. Barnes retired in the mid-1960s to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with his wife Eleanor. An avid golfer and amateur sculptor, he died in January 1991.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Papers of Saxon Barnes cover the period from 1889 to 1990 and consist primarily of correspondence, clippings, and photographs. Major topics documented in the collection include the settlement and distribution of the estate of Djuna Barnes; requests for information on Miss Barnes's work; Ernst (Putzi) Hanfstaengl; Dag Hammarskjöld, former Secretary General of the United Nations; and requests for compensation from Fran McCullough.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
The Papers of Saxon Barnes were donated to the University of Maryland at College Park Libraries by Mr. and Mrs. Saxon Barnes in March 1991.
Processing Information
Processed by Jennifer Pitts, July 1996. Revised August 2001.
A detailed inventory of the photographs was prepared and the negatives were separated from the prints. The clippings were photocopied, and the originals were discarded. Folded materials were flattened. All staples were removed and replaced with plastic fasteners. Items were placed in acid-free folders and boxes. The German calendar and two copies of the marriage certificate of Wald Barnes and Elizabeth Chappell were placed in oversize storage.
When the collection was received in 1991, the originals of the letters written by Miss Barnes to her brother Saxon were incorporated into the Papers of Djuna Barnes. Photocopies of these letters are included in the file of Saxon Barnes's correspondence with the University of Maryland.
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Michael Yates, February 2006.
Arrangement of Collection
The collection is divided into five series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Correspondence, 1917-1990 and undated (1 linear inch)
This series has been divided into two subsections.
The Correspondence of Djuna Barnes subsection contains a telegram from Wald Barnes to his daughter, Djuna, informing her of her grandmother's death; a letter from Miss Barnes to Andrew Field; and cards from Ernst (Putzi) Hanfstaengl. The Correspondence of Saxon Barnes subsection consists of correspondence Mr. Barnes received relating to his sister. It includes letters addressed to Mr. Barnes as well as copies of correspondence addressed to others, mostly relating to the settlement of the estate of Miss Barnes. His correspondents include the Authors Guild, Inc.; Mary Lynn Broe; Brout and Company; Edith Brownman; Silas Glossop; Fran McCullough; Mediums; Montgomery and Bailey; and the University of Maryland.
Major topics include requests for information on Djuna Barnes's literary work; permission to publish Miss Barnes's art work; and the settlement and distribution of Miss Barnes's estate. Also of interest is a six-page reminiscence sent to Mr. Barnes by Fran McCullough entitled "Encountering Miss Barnes."
Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Djuna Barnes Correspondence -- (Wald Barnes, Andrew Field, Ernest Hanfstaengl), 1917-1979, and undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Saxon Barnes Correspondence -- (Author's Guild, Inc.), 1984 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Saxon Barnes Correspondence -- (Mary Lynn Broe), 1990 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Saxon Barnes Correspondence -- (Brout and Company) -- [Peter Friedman], 1982-1987 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Saxon Barnes Correspondence -- (Edith Brownman), 1981 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Saxon Barnes Correspondence -- (Dunnington, Bartholow, and Miller) -- [John W. Shroyer, Warner Lowey], 1982-1987 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| Saxon Barnes Correspondence -- (Silas Glossop), 1985 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 7 | |
| Saxon Barnes Correspondence -- (Jane [?]), undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 8 | |
| Saxon Barnes Correspondence -- (Fran McCullough), undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 9 | |
| Saxon Barnes Correspondence -- (Mediums) -- [Janet Byrne], 1982 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 10 | |
| Saxon Barnes Correspondence -- (Montgomery and Bailey) -- [James M. Montgomery], 1982-1983 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 11 | |
| Saxon Barnes Correspondence -- (University of Maryland) -- [Mary Boccaccio, Donald Farren], 1982-1984 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 12 | |
Series 2: Printed Matter, 1955-1990 (5 items)
The items include a festschrift published in honor of Djuna Barnes's 80th birthday; a pamphlet published as a memorial to M. Eleanor Fitzgerald; an invitation to an exhibition entitled "Speaking in Tongues: Woman Artists and Modernism, 1900-1935" (a photograph of Miss Barnes is on the cover); a hand-colored French souvenir printed on card stock; and a 1974 German calendar given by Ernst (Putzi) Hanfstaengl to Miss Barnes.
This series is arranged alphabetically by title.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eleventh Artillery Regiment Souvenir, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 13 | |
| Festschrift For Djuna Barnes on Her 80th Birthday, A, 1972 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 14 | |
| German Calendar, undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 15 | |
| In Memory of Fitzi -- (Collection of published work about M. Eleanor Fitzgerald), 1955 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 16 | |
| Invitation -- ("Speaking in Tongues: Women Artists and Modernism, 1900-1935"), undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 17 | |
Series 3: Clippings, 1911-1986 and undated (27 items)
Some of the interesting items in this series include seven poems written by Djuna Barnes ("The Dreamer,", "Antique," "She Passed This Way," "Love Song in Autumn," "To One in Another Mood," "Quarry," and "The Walking-Mort"); reviews of books by Ernst (Putzi) Hanfstaengl (Unheard Witness [1957] and Hitler: The Missing Years [1957]); and articles and book reviews about Dag Hammarskjöld, former Secretary General of the United Nations.
The clippings are arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clippings, 1911-1986 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 18 | |
Series 4: Biographical Information, 1889-1982 (9 items)
This series includes copies of the marriage certificate of Wald Barnes and Elizabeth Chappell; the death certificate and will of Djuna Barnes; and a Barnes family history.
The biographical information is arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biographical Information on Djuna Barnes and the Barnes Family, 1889-1982, and undated | series 4 | box 1 | folder 19 | |
Series 5: Photographs, 1899-1947 (1.5 linear feet)
Subjects of the photographs include Djuna Barnes, Ernst (Putzi) Hanfstaengl, and others. Also included are photographs of silverpoint drawings by Thelma Wood. Subjects sketched by Miss Wood include insects, giraffes, a jaguar, and a male lion.
The photographs are arranged chronologically.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait of Elizabeth Chappel Barnes -- (6 1/2" x 4 1/4". Black and white. Printed on recto: "Fredericks/Broadway, N.Y./1892". Inscribed on recto: "To loving dears/Aug. 9. 92". Printed on verso: "Fredericks' Knickerbocker Family Portrait Gallery/770 Broadway/Cor. 9th Street/New York"), 1892 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| Portrait of Elizabeth Chappel Barnes -- (8" x 5". Black and white. Photomechanical enlargement of Series V, Box 1, Folder 1 above), undated [1892] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| Thurn and Djuna Barnes sitting on hammock in woods -- (8" x 5". Black and white. On verso: "Thurn and Djuna") , 1895 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| Thurn and Djuna Barnes sitting on hammock in woods -- (8 1/2" x 6". Black and white. Photomechanical enlargement of Series V, Box 2, Folder 3 above), undated [1895] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
| Djuna Barnes sitting in chair at Cornwall-on-Hudson home -- (4 1/2" x 3 1/2". Black and white. On verso in pencil: "Djuna Barnes/age ? about 10 or 12 - (or 7?)/Cornwall-on-the-Hudson?" On verso in red pen: "Djuna Barnes/5 Patchin Place/N.Y. N.Y. 10011/Please return."), circa 1902 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
| Djuna Barnes sitting in chair at Cornwall-on-Hudson home -- (9 1/2" x 7". Black and white. Photomechanical enlargement of Series V, Box 2, Folder 5 above. On verso: "Djuna aged 12."), undated [circa 1902] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 6 | |
| Portrait in profile of Djuna Barnes wearing necklace and white dress -- (5 1/2" x 3 3/4". Black and white with color applied by hand. On verso in black pen: "Wyndene, Hun[illegible]." On verso in blue pen: "Djuna Barnes/age about 13 years old.") , circa 1905 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 7 | |
| Ernst "Putzi" Hanfstaengl seated indoors, holding cup and saucer -- (6 1/4" x 5 1/2". Black and white. On recto: "Wien. [?]jahr 1911. Ernst Hafstaengl.") , 1911 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 8 | |
| Djuna Barnes and the Millhollands sitting on front porch of house -- (3 1/2" x 5 1/2". Black and white) , 1915 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 9 | |
| Djuna Barnes and the Millhollands sitting in living room -- (4 1/2" x 3 1/2". Black and white. On verso: "Inez Millholland etc and Djuna Barnes/(photo by Putzy)."), 1915 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 10 | |
| Ernst "Putzi" Hanfstaengl standing behind a seated Djuna Barnes, with the cropped shoulder of Inez Millholland[?] -- (3 1/2" x 1 1/2" fragment of larger image. Black and white. On recto: ""Putz/Inez/Djuna B." On verso: "Age about 23." Envelope that contained photograph reads: "Djuna Barnes/Patchin Place/Greenwich Village/New York City"), 1915 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 11 | |
| Processed photograph depicting Ernst "Putzi" Hanfstaengl seated at table with four reflections of himself -- (3 1/2" x 5 1/2". Black and white. On recto: "10 Mai 1915." On verso: "Ernst [illegible" Hanfstaengl."), 1915 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 12 | |
| Djuna Barnes on deck of ship with unidentified woman -- (3 1/4" x 2 1/4". Black and white. On recto: "Aguitania/March 26 1929."), 1929 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 13 | |
| Djuna Barnes on deck of ship with unidentified woman -- (3 1/4" x 2 1/4". Black and white. On recto: "Aguitania/March 26 1929."), 1929 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 14 | |
| Portrait of Djuna Barnes -- (8 3/4" x 6 3/4". Black and white. Photograph by Carl Van Vetchen. On verso: "Always made every "sitter" negroid"), 1933 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 15 | |
| Djuna Barnes standing in park[?] -- (3 3/4" x 2". Black and white. Printed on verso: "Photo Marc."), undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 16 | |
| Djuna Barnes sitting on bench holding cigarette -- (4" x 3". Black and white. On verso: "Algeir? [crossed out]/Djuna."), undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 17 | |
| Edward James and Djuna Barnes standing on bridge -- (3 3/4" x 4". Black and white. On verso: "Edward James and me in Hyde Park(?)/London 194[0?].") , circa 1940 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 18 | |
| Djuna sitting on railing of a bridge(?) -- (3 1/4" x 2 1/4". Black and white), undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 19 | |
| Portrait of Helen Westley -- (8" x 6". Black and white. On verso: "Helen Westley/D Barnes/Return to 220 W14 st."), undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 20 | |
| Unidentified woman standing outside wearing white hat and dark coat -- (Black and white. 1 1/2" x 2 1/2"), undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 21 | |
| Photographic reproduction of painting of Cordelia Coker Pearson by Djuna Barnes -- (8" x 5". Color. Photograph by Peter Julie. On verso: "All rather awful/portrait finished June 5 1947 N.Y.C./5 ft by 2 ft 10 inches/by Djuna Barnes/she was drunk [crossed out] Cordelia Coker Pearson of North Carolina/she insisted/shallack it while wet/was drunk/Photo by Peter Julie 22 W57 (he was drunk)."), undated [1947] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 22 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing five elephants in tall grass -- (7" x 8 1/2". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood) -- Online, undated [1927] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 23 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing deer among plants and leaves -- (9 1/2" x 6 1/2". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood) -- Online, undated [1928] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 24 | |
| Photograpic reproduction of silverpoint showing giraffe -- (9 1/2" x 6 3/4". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood) -- Online, undated [1928] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 25 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing insect and flowers with landscape in background -- (9" x 7". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood) -- Online, undated [1929] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 26 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing jaguar among trees and foliage -- (7" x 8 1/2". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood) -- Online, undated [1929] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 27 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing two giraffes -- (7" x 6". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood. Signature on recto: "TE Wood/Paris 1929.") -- Online, undated [1929] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 28 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing lion in jungle -- (6 1/2" x 8 1/4". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood. Signature on recto: "TE Wood/Paris 1929." On verso: "Do you think he is beautiful?") -- Online, undated [1929] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 29 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing ox hitched to plow with windmill in background -- (9" x 7". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood. Signature on recto: "TE Wood/France 1929." -- Online, undated [1929] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 30 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing two giraffes with flower decoration -- (7 1/2" x 8 1/4". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood. Signature on recto: "TE Wood/NYC 1929.") -- Online, undated [1929] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 31 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing head of horse among carriages -- (8" x 7 1/2". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood. Signature on recto: "TE Wood/NYC 1929.") -- Online, undated [1929] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 32 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing insect with lilies -- (7" x 8 1/2". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood. Signature on recto: "TE Wood/NYC 1929.") -- Online, undated [1929] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 33 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing three neanderthal skeletons among foliage -- (9" x 7". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood. Signature on recto: "TE Wood/NYC 1929.") -- Online, undated [1929] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 34 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing tiger among foliage -- (6 3/4" x 8 3/4". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood. Signature on recto: "TE Wood/NY 1929.") -- Online, undated [1929] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 35 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing hands reaching for orchids -- (6 1/4" x 8 1/4". Black and white) -- Online, undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 36 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing bushbuck among bamboo trees -- (8 3/4" x 6 1/4". Black and white. Silverpoint by Thelma Wood) -- Online, undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 37 | |
| Portrait of Elizabeth Chappel Barnes -- (NEGATIVE. Black and white. Printed on recto: "Fredericks/Broadway, N.Y./1892". Inscribed on recto: "To loving dears/Aug. 9. 92") -- [See Series V, Box 2, Folder 1 above], undated [1892] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 38 | |
| Thurn and Djuna Barnes sitting on hammock in woods -- (NEGATIVE. Black and white) -- [See Series V, Box 2, Folder 3 above], undated [1895] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 39 | |
| Djuna Barnes sitting in chair at Cornwall-on-Hudson home -- (NEGATIVE. Black and white) -- [See Series V, Box 2, Folder 5 above], undated [circa 1902] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 40 | |
| Ernst "Putzi" Hanfstaengl seated indoors, holding cup and saucer -- (NEGATIVE. Black and white. On recto: "Wien. [?]jahr 1911. Ernst Hafstaengl.") -- {See Series V, Box 2, Folder 8 above], undated [1911] | series 5 | box 2 | folder 41 | |
| Photographic reproduction of silverpoint showing hands reaching for orchids -- (NEGATIVE. Black and white) -- [See Series V, Box 2, Folder 36 above], undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 42 | |
Related Material
Materials related to this collection can be found in the Papers of Djuna Barnes, Series I: Correspondence, and in the Barnes Family Papers.
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.
Selected Search Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Maryland Libraries' Catalog. Researchers desiring related materials about these topics, names, or places may search the Catalog using these headings.
Subjects
- Barnes, Djuna -- Estate
- Barnes, Saxon, 1902-1991 -- Archives
Names (Added Entries)
- Barnes, Djuna
- Glossop, Silas
- Hafstaengl, Ernst, 1887-1975